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The act of planting seeds or young plants marks the beginning of their growth journey. Proper planting techniques vary between species but generally include making sure to plant at the recommended depth and spacing, and providing each plant with enough space to grow without competition.

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Soil Preparation & Fertilization Techniques

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Soil Preparation & Fertilization Techniques

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Preparing the soil is crucial for the plants' health and growth. This involves clearing the area of weeds and rocks, improving soil quality by adding organic matter like compost or peat moss, and ensuring proper drainage to prevent waterlogging.

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Selecting the right plants for Falcon Farms involves considering the climate zone, sunlight, and soil conditions. It's also essential to think about the growth patterns of your plants, including their mature size and how they'll interact with their neighbors in the garden.

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The first step in our gardening project involves communicating with other local community garden projects. On February 26th, Weir, Shellhammer, and Cabral visited the community gardens at Earhart Elementary, Coleman Middle School, and East High.

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Post Garden Care updates HERE!

Regular maintenance including watering, weeding, and pest control, is essential. Deep, infrequent watering promotes root growth, while mulching can help retain soil moisture and prevent weeds.

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Harvesting begins when your plants reach maturity. It's important to harvest at the right time for each species, whether you're growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, or herbs. Some plants can be harvested multiple times, while others may need to be replanted each season.

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Composting is a sustainable practice that returns nutrients to the soil, enriching it for future planting. It involves collecting organic waste like leaves, kitchen scraps, and garden trimmings and letting them decompose naturally.

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In regions with cold winters, preparing your garden for the cold months is essential. This can involve mulching perennials, protecting young trees and shrubs, and planting cover crops to reduce soil erosion and improve soil health over winter.

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Mrs. Shellhammer received a grant for two composting bins for the garden (worms included) which are set up in the courtyard and hard at work!

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Maintained by one teacher and her classes; started with one raised bed and grew every year.

Crops are used in class and also given away.

450 students take turns taking care of all the tasks from planting seeds in the classroom, regular watering, planting outside, weeding, harvesting the works.

Biggest obstacles & advice for Heights

no budget

choose plants that align with spring and fall harvesting

choose your companion plants wisely

click this link to view all pictures from this visit

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Coleman Middle School is a community effort. While one teacher watches over the gardens during the day and involves his classes, a second teacher lets out the chickens and ducks every morning and a third teacher locks the pins at dusk every single night. In the summer, a daily part time garden club program teaches kids how to care for both plants and animals and makes sure feeding and watering continues during the hot summer months.

Honey from the bees is sold at parent teacher conferences. Herbs and grapes are used in the school cafeteria. Eggs are consumed by students in class.

Biggest obstacles & advice for Heights:

budget runs mainly on donations

find partners as not to reinvent the wheel

animals are a big commitment and make sure you build a team

link to all pictures taken on this visit

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As an organic garden, we will not be using harmful chemicals. Strategic use of companion plants will help protect the garden from unwanted pests while encouraging visits from pollinators.

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East High's Farms are maintained by one teacher and an extracurricular club of dedicated students.

The greenhouse produces lots of mixed greens that are sold by the club to the culinary arts department.

The farms include a fabulous greenhouse that dreams to have running water and electric connections. Periodically a hose is run to the greenhouse to fill up large water tanks that are used for daily watering. Currently, 2 goats and multiple fruit trees live on the farm :).

Biggest obstacles & advice for Heights

the club hosts a spring plant sale to raise money

mulch can be obtained from the district

embrace that Heights has an inside court yard, East has experienced theft of tools

the club has had success with summer Saturday work days for summer maintenance

click this link for all pictures from the visit

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Mr. Hall's construction students will build a shed to store gardening tools and equipment.

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Plans for the space include a pergola to go over the picnic tables for staff use, class visits, etc.

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In addition to fresh produce, Falcon Farms will work with the culinary department and DECA to create, market, and sell pasta sauce, salsa, and jam.

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Mr. Shellhammer’s students helping prep the area.

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Using tarps, cardboard, and cinder blocks, Mr. Shellhammer and his students have been using natural means to clear the area in preparation for planting. They have also started a variety of tomatoes, peppers, green beans, and herbs in the greenhouse.

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On August 1st, Falcon Farms was awarded the Whole Foods Whole Kids grant which will support the development of the organic garden and outdoor classroom spaces!

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Plans are in the works to get the cement slab poured in the courtyard. Afterwards, Mr. Hall’s wood shop classes will begin construction on a 10x5 garden shed.

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Mr. Shellhammer will ask DECA and The Nest to save coffee grounds to mix with soil.

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Last month, District Facilities was busy at work clearing debris from the courtyard, leveling areas in preparation for building, and laying a concrete slab for the garden shed. Now that these projects are complete, Mr. Hall's construction class will begin the process of building the shed.

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Future Falcon Farmers met for the first time on Thursday, March 6th during Advocacy. We spent today cataloging our seed stock. IF you would like for us to grow you a specific plant for your garden, we can do that for $2. We will grow it in the greenhouse and bring it to you when they are ready to be planted! Please look over the list attached and let Mr. Shellhammer know ASAP. We are starting seed soon!

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This season, we will start small with two garden beds.

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Staff helping care for the community garden over the summer have this guide to help them learn the basics.

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No fruit yet, but plants are flowering! Rain barrel will installation will begin in the next couple of weeks.

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Thanks to the hard work of Mr. Hall’s construction and woodworking students, the garden has a custom shed.

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Tomatoes, Cucumbers, & Zucchini

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After many unforeseen setbacks, the rain barrels have finally been placed for installation. The platforms are made of leftover cinder blocks from the previous courtyard garden and filled with gravel.